Aileach and Glengad both maintained their good starts to the season with impressive victories in another entertaining weekend in the Inishowen League.
Aileach FC 3 Illies Celtic 0
Aileach started the brighter of the two teams but had to wait until 20 minutes before they took the lead when Darren McMonagle made a powerful run through the centre and laid the ball into the path of Dermot Doherty who controlled the ball and fired past Johnny Noone in the Illies goal.
Ilies had a great chance to get level when Liam Grant was upended in the box but Paddy Doherty fired the spot kick wide of the post.
Illies came close again when Dominic Coyle fired a shot from 25-yards that shook the crossbar.
Aileach doubled their advantage minutes later when Dermot Doherty crossed from the right into the path of Anthony Doherty who slotted past Noone.
On the stroke of half-time Gavin Doherty finished the game as a contest when his brother Dermot squared the ball into his path and he slotted into the bottom corner.
The second half was a more tepid affair with only half chances at either end, Illies came closest when a Paul Doherty shot skimming the bar on its way over.
Carn FC 2 Redcastle Utd 1
The home side moved in front after 6 minutes when Christopher Diver delivered into Cade Cooke whose shot rebounded off the bar to Brandon Browne and he drilled home from 12 yards.
Then Michael O’ Donnell released Aaron Mc Carron who in turn found Browne but he blazed over when well placed. Carn continued to have the upper hand and a one-two between Diver and Cooke played in Dermot Doherty but his attempt was pushed over by Mc Cole.
Shortly afterwards, a Michael Mc Dermott pass found Diver who beat two defenders but his shot from just outside the area was just over.
Midway through the opening half, Redcastle started to come more into the game. Darren Harkin found Darragh Mc Conway along the left. He advanced through the home defence but his powerful shot from 18 yards was just to the left and wide.
And Mc Conway was out of luck again when he accepted a square pass from Alan Clarke but he shot wide. Close to half-time Carn came close to doubling the lead when Ryan Kelly got his head to Cooke’s corner but his effort was just wide. Further chances came their way after the interval.
Build up play involving Shane Doherty and Diver saw Dermot Doherty’s shot saved by Mc Cole and Shane Doherty, accepting a pass from Brown, drove wide from 10 yards.
Halfway through Redcastle equalised. An Evan Craig delivery found Aiden Mc Laughlin and he lobbed keeper Fergal Doherty.
On 70 minutes Conor Doherty’s pass found Browne and he blasted home from inside the box to restore Carn’s lead. Browne then had a succession of chances to complete his hat-trick.
He accepted Conor Susie’s pass but fired wide – then he failed to convert a spot-kick after he himself had been upended in the area and right at the death he shot wide from 12 yards.
Glengad 2-1 Buncrana
Glengad had the first chance when Stephen McLaughlin brought a fine save from Paul Mc Daidin the Buncrana net, J.G. Mc Laughlin then played in Terence Doherty but his effort was wide of the upright.
Glengad took the lead on 28 minutes when McLaughlin’s cross into the box was not cleared and Michael Byrne riffled in from 12-yards.
Glengad then made it 2-0 on 44-minutes when Conor Barrow crossed for McLaughlin to score. Glengad should have added a third before half-time but Barrow headed wide from close range.
In the second half Buncrana’s Liam Mc Carron found Kieran McDaid on goal but his effort was held by Mularkey. A few minutes later, McDaid then squared for McHugh, but his shot went inches past the post.
Buncrana pulled a goal back on 86 minutes when Aaron McDaid passed to Kieran McDaid who lobbed the Keeper from 18 yards.
The final action saw Mc Laughlin feed Christy McLaughlin through on goal but McDaid denied him with a brilliant save.
Greencastle 2-0 Culdaff
Greencastle created the first chance when Gavin Harkins effort was cleared by Eugene Mc Laughlin, Eamon Donnelly crossed for Jamie Mc Cormick his shot was blocked, then Donnelly shot over when well placed, Mc Cormick then picked out Harkin but his effort was off target.
Culdaff’s Bryan Mc Candless then broke and crossed for Aiden Cunnigham who’s header brought a fine save from Dillon Doherty in the home goal, then Doherty saved with his legs from Cunnigham Christy Hegarty@ shot crashed off the crossbar and Gillen headed the rebound over, Mc Cormick then had a long-range effort blocked.
Culdaff’s Cunnigham then had 30yd shot cleared by Henry, Stephen Grant skipped past 2 players and was brought down Donnelly drove the free over.
Harkin then picked out Christy Hegarty who brought a fine save from Darragh McLaughlin, Mc Candless then shot wide and McCormick’s 25-yard effort sailed past the upright.
Into the second half, McCormick had a good effort saved by Mc Laughlin who then saved a shot from Ciaran Moore and then tipped a Moore header over the bar.
McLaughlin was kept busy dealing with efforts from Donnelly and McCormick, while Culdaff’s Thomas O’ Brien had an effort cleared by D.J. Canavan and James Henry shot wide at the other end.
A long ball out of Culdaff’s defence found Cunnigham his snapshot was held by Doherty, Greencastle took the lead on 77 minutes when Mc Cormick crossed for Christy Hegarty to turn and fire high to the top corner of the net.
Cunningham brought another fine save from Doherty in the home goal, then Doherty dealt with efforts from Culdaff’s Niall Gordon and Noel Mc Laughlin before Greencastle made the points safe with another Hegarty goal.
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